Pool cleaner



J. R. NORRIS POOL CLEANER Sept. 3, 1963 Filed Dec; 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JDHN RAY NO RRlS BY J. R. NORRIS Sept. 3, 1963 POOL CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 EOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOOOO OQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOQGOM mm M w wz a ,l INVENTOR'O Jnmv RAY NORRIS J. R. NORRIS POOL CLEANER Sept. 3, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 l at 1 "Au EEK,

JDH/V RAY NORRIS Cleaner.

' This invention relates to pool cleaners, and is a further extension and development of the pool cleaner illustrated in my co-pendin=g application, Serial No. 142,658, filed United 1 States Patent October 3, 1961, and now abandoned, and entitled Pool In the pool cleaners of my earlier application, I showed a cleaning head'having a suction conduit connected thereto to withdraw water from the head, while simultaneously water, under pressure, was supplied to the head and dispeed jets.

The cleaner, according to my prior application, performed a satisfactory cleaning job, but was possessed of certain drawbacks and disadvantages that appeared under some particular circumstances. For example, I have found that the supply of water under pressure to the cleaner head is not essential except when cleaning extremely soiled surfaces or where the cleaner is to be constructed of an extremely large size.

For small cleaner heads I have discovered that the application of suction to the suction chamber of the cleaner head can, with properly located and distributed inlet openings, produce an inflow of water from water surrounding the cleaner head at such a velocity and with such turbulence that a scouring and cleaning-action is had even without any pressure supply of Water to the cleaner head.

I have also discovered that many pools are formed to other than regular rectangular shapes, and for cleaning pools of this nature it is important to have a cleaner head that can readily be manipulated to follow the irregular contours of the pool.

, With the foregoing in mind a primary objective of the rected through the head downwardly against the surface present invention is the provision of an improved swimming pool cleaning device which will accomplish superior cleaning of the pool bottom and the pool walls merely by the application of suction to the cleaner head.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a pool cleaner which is relatively compact and which is of small enough dimensions that it can be used with ease even in small pools.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a pool cleaner so constructed and arranged that the main body part of the pool cleaner can be constructed as a simple casting with a minimum of machine work being required to prepare the body for use.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of an arrangement :for swivelly connecting a handle to the cleaner head so that the cleaner head may be manipulated by moving it back and forth in parallelism with itself, or so the cleaner head can be turned relative to the axis of the handle, and thereby permitting the cleaner to be moved along an edge which extends obliquely or in a curved line from the handle of the cleaner.

Still another object. of this inevntion is the provision of a method of cleaning surfaces, such as the bottom and side walls of swimming pools, in which a flow of water for entraining and carrying away the soil is induced by the application of suction to the cleaner head and wherein the Patented Sept. 3, 1963 2 flow of water into the cleaner head so induced is divided into a plurality of jet-like streams for bringing about agitation of the Waterat the surface being cleaned and thereby efiicient scouring of the surface.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view through the cleaner and i-s-indicated by line 22 on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section of the cleaner head near one end thereof as indicated by line 3+3 on FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through one end of the cleaner head as indicated by line 4-4 on FIGURE 1, but drawn at considerably larger scale and showing a sealer element that seals between the cleaner head and the surface being cleaned;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view indicated by line 5-5 on FIGURE 3, showing how the rollers which support the cleaner head are held in position on the body of the cleaner head;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view indicated by line 6-6 on FIGURE 1, showing the suction chamber formed in the bottom of the cleaner head;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view indicated by line 77 on FIGURE 1 showing one of the supporting rollers of the cleaner head;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view of the cleaner head;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view indicated by line 9-9 on FIGURE 1, showing in some considerable detail the action of the incoming jets of water as they impinge, on the surface being cleaned;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 but which shows a modified arrangement for producing turbulent but shows still another manner of establishing turbulent inflow of water into the cleaner head;

FIGURE 13 is a view looking in from the right side of FIGURE 12 as indicated by line 13 thereon showing the opening through which the water enters the cleaner head; j 7

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a different manner of admitting water into the cleaner head;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary sectional view somewhat similar to FIGURES 10 and 12 but showing how the supporting roller for the cleaner head could be provided with projections; and

FIGURES l6 and 17 show a modification 'With a seal element in the roller well.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the cleaner according to the present invention comprises a cleaner head 20 of generally rectangular configuration, having a tubular projection 21 on top adapted for being connected with a suction hose 22.

The tubular projection 21, as will be seen in FIGURES 2, 6 and 8, communicates with a suction chamber 23 formed on the underneath side of cleaner head 20 and extending substantially from end to end thereof.

3 and not only help to produce a strong jet action but also permits the cleaner head to be formed as a casting without requiring any machining of the inlet orifices.

The inlet ports or orifices 25 are preferably arranged in a double row so that an adequate amount of material is maintained between the orifices to maintain the cleaner head as a strong unit. The sum of the areas of the inlet orifices preferably somewhat less than the area of the passage through the tubular projections 21, so that when the suction hose 22 is placed under suction, there will be rapid infiow of Water through the orifices 25, thereby to produce the jet-s 26, illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 9, which impinge against the surface 27 being cleaned and create a turbulent condition indicated by the arrows at 28 and scours the surface being cleaned to release the dirt therefrom, which will, of course, become entrained in the water and pass out through the suction chamber 23 and tubular projection 21 and suction hose 22.

According to the present invention along the front and back edges of the cleaner head there are formed the roller wells 29 and disposed in these roller wells are rollers 30. Each roller consists of a center shaft 31 in the form of a rod and a tubular rubber-like covering 32 over the rod, which may, for example, be hose of the proper inside and outside diameter.

As will be seen in FIGURES 3, 7 and 8, each roller has its shaft 31 projecting beyond the ends of the rubberlike covering 32 into a notch '33 formed in the end walls 34 of the cleaner head, which extend from front to back at the extreme ends of the cleaner head and which walls also confine the suction chamber and the water inlet regions at the ends of the head.

Each end of each shaft 31 preferably has mounted thereon a short sleeve 35 which may be of Teflon, and this forms a good wear resistant bearing material for supporting the shaft. The shafts are simply supported in their respective notches 33 by plates 36 secured to the bottom of the cleaner head by screws 37 and extending across the open lower ends of the said slots.

The aforementioned slots 33 and shallow recesses 36' are readily formed in the cleaner head during the casting operation, and all that is required is the simple drilling of a hole for each screw 37. These screws may be of the self-tapping type so that this hole does not even have to be threaded.

Each end wall '34 is also provided with a recess 38 extending substantially from one roller recess 33 on one side of the cleaner head to the roller recess 33 on the other side of the head.

The recess 38 receives a rubber-like seal strip 39 which preferably has a cylindrical portion cemented in recess 38 and a sort of blade-like portion 40 engages the surface beneath the cleaner head. The seal strips are arranged at opposite ends of the cleaner head and inhibit the fiow of water inwardly at the ends, so that substantially all of the water entering the cleaner head will enter through the orifices 25.

It will also be observed that the clearance around the rollers inside the roller wells is relatively small, so that only a small amount of water will be drawn int-o the cleaner head therethrough. This amount of water could be reduced practically completely by reducing the clearance between the rollers and the walls of the roller wells, or seal members can be placed on the cleaner head engaging the rollers along their length.

The manipulation of the cleaner head is accomplished by. a novel swivel arrangement according to the present invention. This swivel arrangement will best be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. The swivel comprises a U-shaped bracket 41 mounted on a rib member 42 that extends between the one well and the projection 21 in the center of the cleaner head. A bore 43 is provided through which a bolt 44 extends. This bolt passes through the lower leg of the U-shaped bracket and receives a nut 45 for clamping the bracket in place. Advantageously, a friction washer 46 can be positioned between the bottom of the bracket 41 and the top of the cleaner head, and a resilient washer, such'as a spring lock washer 47, can be placed under nut 45, thereby to permit rotary movement of the bracket member about the axis of bolt 44 to be restricted to any desired degree.

Bolted to the upstanding side leg of bracket 41, as by bolt 48, are arms 49 which, at their upper ends, are arcuate so as to embrace therebetween tubular handle 50, which handle is retained on the arms by bolts 51. The handle freely pivots about bolt 48 for manipulating the cleaner head, but lateral movement relative to the cleaner head and handle can be controlled by the tension exerted on friction washer 46, so that the cleaner head will not accidentally pivot in a horizontal plane while a surface is being cleaned.

The cleaner head described above is the preferred embodirnent of my invention, but it will be evident that certain modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In particular, inasmuch as the inflow of water into the cleaner head is induced by the application of suction to the suction chamber through the tubular projection 21, means other than the specific inlet orifices illustrated could be employed for admitting this water and a substantial turbulence in the water and a subsequent scouring action thereof could be obtained.

One way of accomplishing this is shown in FIGURES l0 and 11 where in the cleaner head are roller wells 52 in which are disposed the supporting rollers 53. The roller wells are considerably shorter circumferentially than those illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 9 and a somewhat greater clearance is provided at 54 around the rollers. This increased clearance is availed of for permitting water to flow over the rollers and downwardly and into the space between the rollers and the cleaner head at 55.

In order to provide for a jet-like action and to create considerable turbulence in the water over a fairly wide range, as indicated by the arrow at 56, the inner edge of each roller well at the bottom is provided with notch means 57. These notch means are distributed along the length of the roller well, as will be seen in FIGURE 11, and serve to divide the incoming water into a series of jets, which will impinge on the surface being cleaned and cause a scouring turbulent action to take place.

FIGURES 12 and 13 show another arrangement wherein there is provided along the outer edge of each well a strip 58, preferably resilient, and which is notched along the bottom as at 59 so that water will enter through the notches and flow toward the center of the cleaner head with a turbulent action as indicated at 60, thus cleaning and scouring the surface.

FIGURE 12 also illustrates how the rollers could be replaced by caster wheels 61, and the caster wheels leave substantially the entire width of the cleaner open for the flow of water therethrough. The provision of supporting rollers in the arrangement of FIGURES 12 and 13 would greatly inhibit the movement of water into the cleaner ead.

FIGURE 14 shows how a strip 62 could be provided having apertures 63 therein, spaced upwardly from the lower edge 64 of the strip. This will accomplish the same purpose as the notches 59 in the FIGURES l2 and 13 modification, but would provide for a more pronounced jet action of the incoming water.

FIGURE 15 shows how the supporting rollers 65 of a cleaner head according to this invention could be provided with projections 66, so that there would be space for water to move into the cleaner head under and around the supporting rollers. This water would tend principally to flow inwardly under the rollers, but some water would also pass over the rollers, then downwardly in front of the rollers, to bring about a turbulent action between the rollers and the center of the cleaner head. This turbulent action would also be enhanced by the fact that the water streams are broken up and divided by the projections 66, so that a thorough scouring of the surface being cleaned would be had.

In every one of the modifications referred to, the cleaner head is compact and extremely strong and is free of any parts added to the basic head casting except for the supporting rollers and the swivel bracket for the handle and the sealing strips and all of the modifications have in common that the flow of water into the cleaner head is induced by the suction applied to the suction chamber, and that the incoming water exerts a scour-ing action on the surface being cleaned and approaches the suction chamber in a turbulent condition, sothat the soil dislodged is conveyed by the water into the region where it will be picked up by the strong outgoing stream of water;

The several modifications have in common the swivel handles, which I believe to be novel in this art, and which makes the cleaner head according to my invention extremely easy to use because it can be moved against wall and floor surfaces which may be disposed at an angle to the handle by which the cleaner head is manipulated other than parallel thereto or at right angles thereto.

With respect to the swivel type handle, it will be understood that the bracket 41 .could be rigidly fixed to the cleaner head in the event it was found that the cleaner head tended to swivel in a horizontal plane to an undesirable degree.

A particular advantage of the cleaner head of the present invention is the absence of any pressure hose connected to the cleaner head. This isnot necessary because all the Water which flows into the cleaner head is induced by suction. The absence of the'pressure hose makes the device easier to use and, of course, more inexpensive to manufacture and purchase.

In certain cases it may be desirable to confine the incoming water to nozzle openings or the like specificallyprovided for this purpose, such as the openings 25. In

form of a rod extending parallel with the pertaining roller and engaging the top thereof. This roller fits relatively closely in'the roller well or in a recess provided therefor, and thus inhibits movement of water through the roller well around the roller.

These rods may have the Teflon sleeves 69 on the .ends so that the auxiliary seal rods 60 will rotate freely in the cleaner head. The rod can be supplied simply by extending the recesses in, which the shaft ends of the roller are located vertically upwardly as indicated at 67, so that a single casting operation 'will provide the space for receiving both the auxiliary sealing roller 60 and the supporting roller 30.

I prefer that the cleaner head be cast metaLesuch as aluminum, although it will be understood that it could be formed of other materials, such as plastic or a hard rubber, and the same results would be had. I It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions "and accordingly, it is' desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. [in a cleaner especially for the under water cleaning of pool floors and like surfaces; a generally rectangular head, resilient rollers carried'by the head for rollingly supporting it on the surface to be cleaned, said rollers being located atopposite edge-portions of l the head and extending substantially the full length of the head and serving as seals toprevent water from being drawn into the head in the region of the rollers,

a suction chamber in the bottom of said head exposed to the surface being cleaned and extending from end to end of the head, and means in the head also extending from end to end thereof and along opposite sides of thesuction chamber operable toadmit water into the head in response to the application of suction to said suction chamber, said means comprising passage means leading from the underneath side of the head to the outside and operable to cause jet-like turbulent flow of water into the head and against the surface being cleaned.

2. In a cleaner especially for the under water cleaning of pool floors and like surfaces; a generally rectangular head, resilient rollers carried by the head for rollingly supporting it on the surface to be cleaned, said rollers being located at opposite edge portions of the head and extending substantially the full [length of the head and serving as seals to prevent water from being drawn into the head in the region of the rollers, a suction chamber in the bottom of said head exposedto the surface being cleaned and extending from end to end of the head, and means in the head also extending from end to end thereof and along opposite sides of the suction chamber operable to admit water into the head in of the head extending substantially the full length of the head and on the bottom thereof to support the head rollingly on a surface to be cleaned, means sealing the ends of the head to a surface on which the roller means rest, and means operable in response to the application of suction to said suction chamber to permit water to be admitted into the space beneath said head between the ends thereof and inwardly of the edges thereof to create a turbulent scouring flow of water over the surface being cleaned in the region between said roller means and the center of said suction chamber.

4.. In a cleaner, especially for the under water cleaning of pool floors and like surfaces; a generally rectangular head, a suction chamber opening from the bottom of the head and extending from end to end thereof, roller means on the head at the front and back edges of the head extending substantially the full length of the head and on the bottom of the'head to support the, bead rollingly on a surface to be cleaned, well means formed in the head closely, receiving said roller means, passage means formed in the head between each roller means and the middle of the head to admit water through the head to the region therebeneath between said roller means and themiddle of the head when suction is applied to said suction chamber while said head rests on a surface underwater, and resilient sealing stripv means mounted on the ends of said head on the bottom and extending between the roller means for sealing the ends of the head to the surface being cleaned.

- be cleaned, well means formed in the head receiving said roller means, passage means formed in" the head extending therethrough from top to bottom and located in the head inwardly of each said roller means so as to admit water through the head to the bottom thereof when suction is applied to said suction chamber, and resilient seal means on the ends of said head extending between the roller means for sealing the ends of the head to the surface being cleaned, said roller means extending substantially from end to end of the head and substantially sealing between the head and the said sur face at the front and back edges of the head.

6. In a cleaner, especially for the under water cleaning of pool floors and like surfaces; a generally rectangular head, a suction chamber opening from the bottom of the head and extending from end to end thereof, roller means at the front and back edges of the head on the bottom to support it rollingly on a surface to be cleaned, well means formed in the head receiving said roller means, passage means formed in the head extending therethrough from top to bottom and located in the head inwardly of each said roller means so as to admit water through the head to the bottom thereof when suction is applied to said suction chamber, and resilient seal means on the ends of said head extending between the roller means for sealing the ends of the head to the surface being cleaned, said roller means extending substantially from end to end of the head and substantialy sealing between the head and the said surface at the front and back edges of the head, there being an auxiliary seal element in each well means in the form of a rod engaging the pertaining roller means and closely fitting in the well means.

7. In a cleaner, especially of the nature described; a generally rectangular flat head, a suction chamber opening from the bottom of the head and extending substantially from end to end thereof, a suction conduit leading from said chamber through the top of the head in about the middle, said chamber tapering downwardly from said conduit in all directions, a well extending parallel to the suction chamber at each of the front and back edges of the head and opening downwardly, a roller having a resilient surface in each well, each roller having shaft means journalled in the head at the ends of the rollers, said head including end walls, resilient seal means in the end walls for engaging a surface on which the rollers rest so the rollers and seal means substantially confine the space beneath the head when it is placed on a surface to be cleaned, and orifice means in the head between each of said rollers and the middle of the head to admit water in the form of downwardly directed jets when the cleaner is placed on a surface under water and suction is applied to said conduit.

8. 'In a cleaner, especially of the nature described; a generally rectangular fiat head, a suction chamber opening from the bottom of the head and extending substantially from end to end thereof, a suction conduit leading from said chamber through the top of the head in about the middle, said chamber tapering downwardly from said conduit in all directions, a well extending parallel to the suction chamber at each of the front and back edges of the head and opening downwardly, a roller having a resilient surface in each well, each roller having shaft means journalled in the head at the ends of the rollers, said head including end walls, resilient seal means in the end Walls for engaging a surface on which the rollers rest so the rollers and seal means substantially confine the space beneath the head when it is placed on a surface to be cleaned, and orifice means in the head between each of said rollers and the middle of the head to admit water in the form of downwardly directed jets when the cleaner is placed on a surface under water and suction is applied to said conduit, there being a bracket attached to said head in the region of the center thereof for connection to a handle for manipulating said head.

9. In a cleaner, especially of the nature described; a generally rectangular flat head, a suction chamber opening from the bottom of the head and extending substantially from end to end thereof, a suction conduit leading from said chamber through the top of the head in about the middle, said chamber tapering downwardly from said conduit in all directions, a well extending parallel to the suction chamber at each of the front and back edges of the head and opening downwardly, a roller having a resilient surface in each well, each roller having shaft means journalled in the head at the ends of the rollers, said head including end walls, resilient seal means in the end walls for engaging a surface on which the rollers rest so the rollers and seal means substantially confine the space beneath the head when it is placed on a surface to be cleaned, and orifice means in the head between each of said rollers and the middle of the head to admit water in the form of downwardly directed jets when the cleaner is placed on a surface under water and suction is applied to said conduit, there being a bracket attached to said head in the region of the center thereof for connection to a handle for manipulating said head, said bracket including means for pivotal movement of the handle thereon in a vertical plane.

10. In a cleaner, especially of the nature described; a generally rectangular flat head, a suction chamber opening from the bottom of the head and extending substantially from end to end thereof, a suction conduit leading from said chamber through the top of the head in about the middle, said chamber tapering downwardly from said conduit in all directions, a well extending parallel to the suction chamber at each of the front and back edges of the head and opening downwardly, a roller having a resilient surface in each well, each roller having shaft means journalled in the head at the ends of the rollers, said head including end walls, resilient seal means in the end walls for engaging a surface on which the rollers rest so the rollers and seal means substantially confine the shape beneath the head when it is placed on a surface to be cleaned, and orifice means in the head between each of said rollers and the middle of the head to admit water in the form of downwardly directed jets when the cleaner is placed on a surface under water and suction is applied to said conduit, there being a bracket attached to said head in the region of the center thereof for connection to a handle for manipulating said head, said bracket including means for pivotal movement of the handle thereon in a vertical plane, said bracket being adapted for pivotal movement on said head in a horizontal plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 787,389 Moorhead Apr. 18, 1905 927,668 Moorhead July 13, 1909 993,694 Larson May 30, 1911 1,992,238 Rose Feb. 26, 1935 2,141,811 Everson Dec. 27, 1938 2,164,392 Ellis July 4, 1939 2,846,711 Brace Aug. 12, 1958 3,019,462 Nash et al Feb. 6, 1962 3,046,583 Drennan July 31, 1962 3,074,087 Drennan Jan. 22, 1963 

1. IN A CLEANER ESPECIALLY FOR THE UNDER WATER CLEANING OF POOL FLOORS AND LIKE SURFACES; A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR HEAD, RESILIENT ROLLERS CARRIED BY THE HEAD FOR ROLLINGLY SUPPORTING IT ON THE SURFACE TO BE CLEANED, SAID ROLLERS BEING LOCATED AT OPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS OF THE HEAD AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF THE HEAD AND SERVING AS SEALS TO PREVENT WATER FROM BEING DRAWN INTO THE HEAD IN THE REGION OF THE ROLLERS, A SUCTION CHAMBER IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID HEAD EXPOSED TO THE SURFACE BEING CLEANED AND EXTENDING FROM END TO END OF THE HEAD, AND MEANS IN THE HEAD ALSO EXTENDING FROM END TO END THEREOF AND ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SUCTION CHAMBER OPERABLE TO ADMIT WATER INTO THE HEAD IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF SUCTION TO SAID SUCTION CHAMBER, SAID MEANS COMPRISING PASSAGE MEANS LEADING FROM THE UNDERNEATH SIDE OF THE HEAD TO THE OUTSIDE AND OPERABLE TO CAUSE JET-LIKE TURBULENT FLOW OF WATER INTO THE HEAD AND AGAINST THE SURFACE BEING CLEANED. 